Most people have had a ping pong ball in their hand at some point, and most have played the game at least once or twice. It’s a great sport for building coordination and dexterity, as well as having fun and socializing with friends. But how much do you know about the official ping pong rules?
The most basic ping pong rule is that you must hit the ball over the net. There are many ways to do this, but the most important thing is that you practice consistently and keep your eye on the ball. You also need to hone your timing and get a feel for how the ball will bounce and respond to different spins.
To serve, you must hold the ball in your open palm, and toss it at least 6″ straight up. It must then bounce on your side of the table, over the net, and onto your opponent’s side of the table to count as a legal serve. If the ball hits any part of your body outside your paddle hand (this includes all fingers and hand area below the wrist) during a rally, it is considered a violation of the rules, and your opponent gets the point.
The name of the game is called Table Tennis, not Ping Pong, in most of the world, especially Europe and Asia, where it is very popular. Ping pong is a registered trademark of Parker Brothers, and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has adopted the name Table Tennis for international competitions.